The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

The Midas List—Forbes’ annual list of the top 100 venture capitalists—is not without its critics. Last year, I was one of them. After the 2011 List was chided for including only two women, List editor Nicole Periroth wrote in a response that women just weren’t pursuing a venture capital (VC) career path: “I hope the dearth of women on this year’s list is a sober wake-up call—for everyone.”

Five extraordinary women were honored on this year’s Midas List. Although five in 100 falls short of industry expectations (female partners made up 8.5% of Midas List-eligible venture capital firms last year), lamenting the shortage of women in VC does nothing to solve the pipeline problem.

To make change in any field, we need smart, brave, and determined front-runners to break down barriers and lead the way. The five women on the Midas List represent just that—a slate of role models for the coming generation of investors.

Read on for more about the most powerful women in VC, and my conversations with them about leveling the investment playing field.

The Midas Women

Mary Meeker: #42

Although Barron’s named her “Queen of the Net” back in 1998, Meeker debuted on the Midas List in 2012, buoyed by her success with the $12.8 billion Groupon IPO. With an MBA from Cornell University and a BA in psychology, she spent 28 years on Wall Street before shifting to Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in late 2010.

Ruby Lu: #76

Born in China’s Fujian Province, Lu focuses her investments largely in East Asia. Her big win was the $1.24 billion IPO of e-commerce giant Dangdang (“the Amazon.com of China”), but Lu’s portfolio at DCM includes businesses in diverse fields like healthcare, events, and communications. Her background is in investment banking and consulting, and she has a master’s degree in international studies.

Theresia Gouw Ranzetta: #92

Ranzetta earned her way back onto the Midas List (up one spot from #93) for her success with security company Imperva’s nearly $400 million IPO. Her investments at Accel Partners also include female-focused consumer companies like Glam Media, ModCloth, and LearnVest. Although she spent a few years in consulting and tech, most of her career has been in venture capital. Ranzetta did her undergraduate work in engineering and then earned an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Jenny Lee: #94

Based in Shanghai, Lee focuses on the Chinese market for GGV Capital. She started her career in electronic warfare technology, and has been in the VC industry for a decade where she made her way onto the Midas List for her role in the success of Chinese companies HiSoft and 21Vianet. Lee earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, and she holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Adele Oliva: #97

One of the very few life sciences investors on the 2012 Midas List, Oliva made a name for herself with the $525 million acquisition of Ascent Healthcare Solutions. Prior to starting her career in investing in 1997, Oliva worked in marketing and business development in the healthcare sector. She has a bachelor’s in finance and earned an MBA from Cornell University.

Playing With the Boys

Featured on the Midas List with 95 of their industry’s top male investors, the female honorees are used to being part of the boys club. “I’m accustomed to the environment,” said Oliva of her role in a male-dominated industry. Another honoree bristled at being called a female VC. “I’m a VC, period,” she explained.